"With modern irrigation and techniques, the Vale do São Francisco has gone from being a vast semi-arid expanse to one of the leading agricultural regions in Brazil and the world"

Spotlight on key facts and main elements of his approach:

The estate: Fazenda Boa Terra

220 ha of desert terrain, including 110 ha for mango farming

Production of different varieties of mango: Tommy Atkins, Palmer, Kent and Keitt

Innovations

A pioneer in the region for the past ten years in irrigation systems

Use of a modern irrigation system which calculates the volume of water required according to crop evaporation and transpiration for each phenological state, dispensed using micro-sprinklers and droplines

Physical and chemical soil analyses

Local production of young plants

Choice of crop protection products with lowest-toxicity on the market

Pest and disease control using a range of methods which are harmless to users and the environment